The Design of a K-Band 0.8-V 9.2-mW Phase-Locked Loop

Abstract

A 0.8-V CMOS Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) has been designed and fabricated by using a 0.13-µm 1p8m CMOS process. In the proposed PLL, the double-positive-feedbacks voltage-controlled oscillator (DPF-VCO) is used to generate current signals for the coupling current-mode injection-locked frequency divider (CCMILFD) and current-injection current-mode logic (CICML) divider. A short-pulsed-reset phase frequency detector (SPR-PFD) with the reduced pulse width of reset signal to improve the linear range of the PFD and a complementary-type charge pump to eliminate the current path delay are also adopted in the proposed PLL. The measured in-band phase noise of the fabricated PLL is -98dBc/Hz. The locking range of the PLL is from 22.6GHz to 23.3GHz and the reference spur level is -69dBm that is 54dB bellow the carrier. The power consumption is 9.2mW under a 0.8-V power supply. The proposed PLL has the advantages of low phase noise, low reference spur, and low power dissipation at low voltage operation.